Portable smoker&#39;s refuse receiver



March 12, 1968 w. R. ROUSE PORTABLE SMOKER'S REFUSE RECEIVER Filed Feb;2, 1967 h Y m H a P Label Plastic Foam Paper Stock Paper Stock WilliamR. Rouse R m. m m N A m. m a Y B g n kfl mm mm P /8 Plastic Foam UnitedStates Patent Office 3,372,724 Patented Mar. 12, 1968 3,372,724 PORTABLESMOKERS REFUSE RECEIVER William R. Rouse, 5420 Rambler Way, Sacramento,Calif. 95841 Filed Feb. 2, 1967, Ser. No. 613,617 6 Claims. (Cl. 150-30)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A portable smokers refuse receiver. Whilesuitable for repetitional use, it is made of lightweight optionalthrowaway components. It is pocket-size. Can be collapsed and carried inpurse or pocket. Lined with fireproof foil. The walls are exteriorlycovered with insulating plastic foam and expedite snutling lighted buttsin seconds. Optionally attachable to pack, match folder or other supportsurface.

Background of the invention This invention relates to an improvedportable pocketsize receiver for smokers refuse which, while readilyattachable to a pack of cigarettes, cigars, match folder, interiorsurfaces of an automobile or the like, is so selfcontained that it canbe safely and acceptably carried in ones pocket or purse for on-the-spotuse whenever and wherever a regular ashtray is not convenientlyaccessible.

Prior art Persons conversant with the field of invention herein underconsideration are well aware that it is common practice to combine anashtray with a cigarette package as shown, for example, in Gartrell etal. Patent 2,849,154 and similarly in Bryan Patent 2,462,160. While thepresent ash, butt and refuse receiver is such that it can be adhesivelyattached to whatever supporting and carrying surface desired, it is aninnovation in that an available adhesive surface can remain covered andintact, whereby the then self-contained receiver has the capability ofbeing safely carried in ones garment pocket, handbag, or purse, asdesired.

While prior art ash receivers teach the idea of using flame-resistantand smoke and odor diminishing alumimum and equivalent metal foilsurfaces, the constructions which have come to light after surveying thefield of search, fall short of solving the over-all problem. Anobjective in the present contribution to the art is to provide aready-to-use receiver which features an expansible and contractiblesafety-type pouch which has a closing flap for the openable and closablemouth to prevent spilling.

Another improvement resides in providing (1) an easily expansible andcollapsible pouch (2) an equally competent spill-proofing andsafeguarding flap (3) economical paper stock walls interiorly coveredand flameresistant and (4) which are exteriorly insulated to virtuallyinhibit passage of heat rays so that very little heat is conducted fromthe receptacle portion. Accordingly, this receiver or tray will, asexperience has repeatedly shown, snuff out and extinguish the ignitedend of a cigarette in about ten seconds, simply by chucking the lightedcigarette into the foil-lined reflecting and heat diffusing pouch.

Summary Briefly, the receiver comprises two similar paper panels havinginner opposed surfaces which are foil-lined. The lower ends of thepanels are overlapped and hingedly joined and one panel (or wall) hasbellows-like or flexible accordion-pleated webs which join the companionedges of said panels so that the resulting V-shaped receiver can bespread open from a normally closed state. The closing flap is capable ofbeing manually tucked in or Withdrawn as desired. The exterior surfacesof the wall-forming panels are covered by blocks (auxiliary panels) ofinsulation, for example, plies of Styrofoam or equivalent heat blockingcovers. Finally, at least one cover has an adhesive surface and anormally applied but peelably removable facing which is optionallyremovable.

The general objective is to provide a simple, practical and structurallyunique smokers refuse receiver or tray which, possessed of theabove-named features and improvements, well serves the purposes forwhich it has been devised and acceptably used.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a.portable smokers refuse receiver constructed in accordance with thepresent invention and showing the mouth of the receiver or pouch portionuncovered.

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective similar to FIG. 1 but showing thereceiver collapsed or folded to compact form and with the tip or lip ofthe cover flap tucked in to efiect the desired closing result.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view wherein all of the componentparts are shown in oriented relationship.

FIG. 4 is a view on an enlarged scale taken on the plane of the verticalsection line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

And FIG. 5 is a view at right angles taken on the horizontal sectionline 5-5 of FIG. 4.

Stated somewhat briefly the ready-to-use refuse depositing and lightedcigarette snuifing receiver is made up of the five component partsillustrated in FIG. 3, the fifth component or part (at the right) beingtwo laminations and constituting an optional expedient, moreparticularly, means carried by the plastic foam lamination for attachingthe same by adhesive media to whatever support surface (cigarettepackage or the like) desired.

Referring now to the over-all views the numeral 8 in FIG. 3 for examplecomprises an elongated substantially rectangular sheet or piece of paperstock having upper rounded corners 10. The entire inner surface of thissheet or lamination is covered by an adhesively bonded ply or laminationof heat-resistant aluminum foil or equivalent sheet material which isdenoted generally at 12. A relatively narrow lower end or bottom portionof the paper as well as foil is bent upon itself as at 14 to define anassembling and retaining fiap which is denoted at 16. The upper extendedend portion is formed into a bendable tongue-like flap 18 the purpose ofwhich is to provide a closure, FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. This tw0-ply component8 and 12 comprises a Wall which is conveniently differentiated as therear wall. A relatively short substantially rectangular lamination orply of paper stock which is here denoted by the numeral 29 constitutesand defines the front wall which is proportional in size and shape withthe wall 8. Its lower edge portion 22 is designed and adapted to beseated in the crease or fold 23 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 4. Thevertical marginal edge portions 24 of this front wall 22 are providedwith substantially V- shaped webs 26 which are creased as at 28 todefine bellows-like folding webs. The entire interior surfaces of thefront wall 20 and webs 26 are lined with heat-resisting aluminum orequivalent foil 21 which confronts the aforementioned ply of foil 12.The free edge portions 30 overlap the coacting edge portions of thefront wall 8 and adhesively or otherwise attached thereto as shown infinished product, FIG. 5. It follows that by seating the edge 22 in thefold 23 and then adhesively attaching the flap 16 to the lower endportion of the exterior surface of the ply the two walls 8 and 20 arethus assembled to provide the desired expansible and contractibleopenmouth pouch or receiver. With these components thus assembled andjoined, as shown particularly in FIGS. 4 and 5, it will be evident thatthe upper foil-lined end portion of the front wall 8 provides atongue-like closing flap 18. In other words there is a flap 16 at thebottom for assembling purposes and a bendable tongue-like flap 18 at thetop which can be manually bent over and tucked into the mouth portion toeffect the closing step shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 or to permit the mouth ofthe pouch to be opened as shown in FIG. 1 wherein the pouch is expandedto receive ashes, burnt match stems or a used stub (not shown) of acigarette. This pouch in and of itself provides a satisfactory ashreceiver and container for cigarette stubs, one which is substantiallyfire-resistant or, as generally referred to, fire-proof. To increase theeffectiveness particularly of the fire-resisting properties it isdesirable to completely cover or shield the exterior surfaces of theplies or walls 8 and 20. Accordingly two substantially rectangularblocks or laminations of plastic foam such as Styrofoam are provided.One ply at the left is denoted by the numeral 32 and is fastened to andcovers the exterior surface of the wall 20. The other foam plastic ply34 to the right is superimposed on and fastened to the exterior surfaceof the rear wall 8. It is within the purview of the invention to provideadhesive media 36 on the lamination 34 and to stick or attach a label 38thereon. This label in turn is provided with a suitable gummed surface40 for attaching purposes, said surface being normally covered by apeelable or detachable cover sheet 42.

It will be evident that by removing the peelable sheet 42 and exposingthe adhesive surface 40 the ready-to-use pouch or receiver can beattached to a package of cigarettes, the back of a book of matches, anautomobile dashboard or other support surface. Or, alternatively, it canbe carried in ones pocket or purse and used as an ashtray without, ofcourse, removing the detachable cover 42.

It will be evident that this portable receiver or ashtray willextinguish lighted cigarettes in about ten seconds when they are placedwith the lit end downward in the pouch. Actually, as experience hasshown, it is not necessary to crush out the lighted end. The aluminumfoil reflects and diffuses the heat and the thermoplastic or the plasticfoam plies 32 and 34 inhibit the conducting of heat. Accordingly, verylittle heat is conducted from the interior to either the front or backof the overall receiver.

It is submitted that the manner in which the front and rear walls (twoplies of suitable materials joined together) are constructedindividually and then assembled to provide the receiver or pouch properis clear from the views of the drawing. Also the manner in which thereceiver is further reinforced by the adhesive attachment of thelightweight but thick block-like plies of thermoplastic 32 and 34 isevident. The manner of attaching the adhesive means is shown in FIGS. 4and 5.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and according all suitable modifications and equivalents maybe resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A portable pocket-type refuse receiver for smokers comprising a rearwall, an opposed front wall, said walls having contiguous lower endportions hingedly joined whereby said walls are capable of beingmanually folded together in aligned face-to-face contact or,alternatively, swung apart to provide an intervening space, at least oneof said walls having creased bellows-like webs along opposite marginaledges provided with edges joined to cooperable marginal edges of theother wall and said walls and coordinating webs defining an openable andclosa-ble refuse pouch, the interior surfaces of said walls and websbeing wholly covered with fire resistant lining material, the entireexterior surfaces of said rear and front walls, respectively, beingcovered with permanently attached laminations made of insulationmaterial.

2. The refuse receiver defined in and according to claim 1, and whereinthe exterior surface of at least one of said laminations is providedwith adhesive media, said adhesive media being normally intact andcompletely covered by a manually peelable detachable adhesive mediaexposing label, said label being optionally usable.

3. The refuse receiver according to claim 1 and wherein said laminationsare made of expanded foam plastic such as polystyrene, each laminationconforming in shape and size with the companion surface of the wall onwhich it is superimposed and attached.

4. The refuse receiver according to claim 3 and wherein said space istransformed into a substantially V-shaped pouch when said walls havebeen manually spread apart with said webs distended either partly orwholly as desired, the lower end portion of said rear wall beingelongated and formed into an upwardly laterally directed first flapdefining and providing a crease in which a cooperating lower end portionof the front wall is seated and retained, said fiap being superimposedupon and secured to a coacting lower end portion of the front Wall, andwherein said rear wall also has an extended tonguelike upper end portionwhich defines and provides a second flap, and said second flap providinga closure for said mouth, that is, when the free terminal lip portion ofSaid closure fiap is telescopingly directed down and tucked into saidmouth to effect the desired mouth-closing step.

5. A self-contained portable pocket-type refuse receiver for smokerscomprising a substantially rectangular rear wall embodying a first outerply of foldable paper stock material and a companion second inner ply offireresistant foil superimposed upon and attached to and lining aninterior surface of said first ply of material and defining said rearwall, said rear wall having an upwardly laterally bent bottom flange andalso having an upper bendable end portion providing a tongue-likeclosing flap, a front wall complemental to said rear wall and comprisinga first outer ply of paper stock material and a second inner ply offire-resistant foil wholly covering and attached to the interior surfaceof said first outer ply of paper stock material, the respective verticalmarginal edges of said front wall sheet material being provided withsubstantially V-shaped longitudinally creased bellows-likefire-resistant webs, the lower end portion of said rear wall beingjoined to the lower end portion of said front wall by said bottomflange, the webs being attached to rearward marginal surface portions ofsaid rear wall and thus providing a substantially V-shaped expansibleand contractible pouch, the upper bendable end portion of said rear wallprojecting above the upper end of the front wall and being bent down andinwardly and formed into a closing flap.

6. The refuse receiver according to claim 5 and wherein the entireexterior surfaces of said front and rear walls, respectively are coveredwith permanently attached laminations made of lightweightself-shape-sustaining plies of plastic foam.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,349,488 5/1944 Dement 206-48DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner.

